Texas man sentenced to 14 years for exploiting eastern Ontario child he met in online video game
![Child exploitation A Vancouver Island man is facing multiple child-exploitation charges following a months-long investigation involving authorities on both sides of the Canada-U.S. border. (File photo)](/content/dam/ctvnews/en/images/2023/11/2/child-exploitation-1-6628543-1716918378577.jpg)
A 35-year-old man from Texas has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for luring a minor from the city of Quinte West, Ont.
The Quinte West Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police began the child exploitation and luring investigation against the man in April of 2019. The victim, who was under the age of 14, met the man while playing a 'popular online game.'
A joint investigation by OPP, United States Homeland Security and the New Braunfels Police Department in Texas led to his arrest.
According to court documents, Jonathan Travis Flora, 35, held conversations that were often sexual in nature and exchanged nude photos and videos with the victim through gaming communication features and a phone messaging application.
The United States Attorney's Office for the Western District of Texas says Flora purchased a cell phone with a Canadian area code to continue communicating with the child under the guise that Flora was a classmate.
The victim's father received an unusually high phone bill and found the child had exchanged more than 2,000 phone messages in a two-day period. The victim then disclosed the interactions to OPP.
- Sign up now for our nightly CTV News Ottawa newsletter
- The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App
"Preying on children will not be tolerated," said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas in a news release.
"This case reminds us that sexual predators can be found lurking in a multitude of places, including online video games, but it also shows the dedication shared by federal, state and international law enforcement to protect children and aggressively pursue those predators who manipulate them and prey upon their innocence."
A San Antonio, Texas court sentenced the man to 14 years in prison, followed by 15 years of supervised release.
Flora, from New Braunfels, Texas has an outstanding warrant by OPP for the following offences:
- Possession of child pornography
- Transmit sexually explicit material to a person under 14 years of age
- Invitation to sexual touching under 16 years of age
- Makes, prints, publishes or possess for the purpose of publication child pornography
- Luring person under 14 years of age by means of telecommunication
OPP says it is committed to reducing the number of child predators and the threats they pose to children and communities.
More information and resources can be found at the Canadian Centre for Child Protection.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6945600.1719608806!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
'We need new leadership': Liberal MP writes to caucus, says Justin Trudeau should resign
A sitting Liberal MP has written to the federal caucus to say he thinks Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should resign. 'For the future of our party and for the good of our country we need new leadership and a new direction,' said New Brunswick MP Wayne Long in the brief note.
WestJet warns of travel disruption as mechanics union opts to 'continue with strike action'
WestJet says its mechanics went ahead with their previously threatened strike on Friday evening, and the airline is 'outraged.'
Minivan slams into a Long Island nail salon, killing 4 and injuring 9, fire official says
A minivan slammed into a Long Island nail salon Friday, killing four people and injuring 9, a Suffolk County fire official said.
Ontario MPP removed from PC caucus over 'serious lapses in judgment'
Premier Doug Ford has removed a member of his caucus due to what he’s describing as 'serious lapses in judgment.' In a statement released Friday morning, the premier’s office said MPP Goldie Ghamari had been removed from the Progressive Conservative caucus 'effective immediately.'
Martin Mull, hip comic and actor from 'Fernwood Tonight' and 'Roseanne,' dies at 80
Martin Mull, whose droll, esoteric comedy and acting made him a hip sensation in the 1970s and later a beloved guest star on sitcoms including 'Roseanne' and 'Arrested Development,' has died, his daughter said Friday.
Lt.-Gen. Jennie Carignan to become first woman to lead Canadian Armed Forces
Lt.-Gen. Jennie Carignan will be named Canada's new Chief of the Defence Staff, CTV News has learned, making her the first woman to lead the Canadian Armed Forces.
Multivitamins don't help you live longer, study suggests
Millions of people who take multivitamins everyday may not be reaping the perceived health benefits, according to new research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Is marriage harder than it was 10 years ago? Why one psychologist thinks so
Marriage might be the oldest institution in the world, but it's struggling to adapt to the pressures of modern life. Registered psychologist Adisa Azubuike explains why it's more difficult today.
Five survivors from Sudbury, Ont., rescued in human trafficking investigation
Six people have been charged in a provincial human trafficking investigation that identified five survivors from Greater Sudbury.